Padres' second-half storylines

Stay tuned

The Padres are again slipping out off the radar as local interest begins to shift from the Friars’ fading campaign to the Chargers’ upcoming season. Still, there’s plenty left to look forward to after the All-Star break if you can’t get enough baseball. Here’s a look at five storylines to keep an eye on.

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1

The Chase is ... off

The single biggest reason for optimism heading into the season has been the biggest disappointment this year. Chase Headley opened the season on the disabled list and has rarely resembled the heart-of-the-order hitter who slugged .498 a year ago. This year, he has limped to a .359 mark at the break. Of course, 23 of his 31 homers last year came after the All-Star break, so we’re not counting out some kind of turnaround helping drag Headley and the Padres out of this funk.

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2

Buyers or sellers?

This question was answered by a 10-game losing streak that dropped the Padres from second in the NL West to dead last in the division. Don’t hold your breath on Matt Garza or anyone else considered a rental. That boat sailed earlier this month. If the Padres make any moves, they’ll kick the tires on moving expiring contracts of the likes of Edinson Volquez and Jason Marquis for prospects or see if anyone is interested in taking someone like Huston Street in a salary dump.

Hayne Palmour IV

3

Suspensions looming?

The commissioner’s office appears poised to start handing out suspensions for players linked to the Biogenesis scandal, and Padres SS Everth Cabrera is among the two dozen players on that list (Yasmani Grandal is too, but he’s out for the year with a knee injury). The players’ union will put up a fight, so it’s unclear if disciplinary actions will get levied this season or drag into the start of the 2014 season. Word is, the Padres’ brass believe Cabrera will be in the clear.

/ AP

4

Wild, Wild West

Even sitting 12 games under .500 and 8½ games out of first place in the NL West, a hot streak could certainly carry the Padres back to contention – if the Dodgers ever come back to earth, that is. Well, maybe respectability is the better goal at this point. The Padres will play 32 of their final 66 games against NL West opponents – 10 against the Diamondbacks and Giants and six against the Dodgers and Rockies.

/ AP

5

Hello, New York

Whatever happens in the second half, the Yankees will at least bring some drama to Petco Park in their first trip to the new stadium – and their first visit to San Diego since the 2002 season. Their general manager is cursing Alex Rodriguez in the media. Golden boy Derek Jeter is finally playing in games. The team is slipping to the bottom of the AL East. If A-Rod is activated for the Yankees’ three-game stop next month (Aug. 2-4), fans could really get their money’s worth.